Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

“TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE A CLEAR RIGHT TO ENJOY BENEFITS OF EU MEMBERSHIP” VERHEUGEN SAYS

The Vice-President of the European Commission Gunter Verheugen has once again pledged his mild approach to the Turkish Cypriot People.
Mr Verheugen, who was in Cyprus for contacts on both sides, met with TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat at a working dinner last night.

The dinner took place at the Presidential Palace.
At the end of the dinner, Gunter Verheugen told reporters that the present approach regarding the solution process in Cyprus is promising.

He welcomed the approach jointly owned by Talat and Christofias who he said are undertaking every possible effort towards reaching a mutually acceptable settlement in Cyprus.
EU Commission’s Vice-President delivered a remarkable message by saying that Turkish Cypriots have a clear right to enjoy the benefits of the European Union membership.

Therefore, he said, the EU should support all initiatives aimed at reaching a final settlement on the island.
Explaining that the role of the EU is to neither negotiate nor mediate at the Cyprus solution process, Verheugen yet expressed the EU’s readiness for providing any technical assitance and advice to the Cyprus parties, if and when requested.

In addition to a full briefing on the substance of Cyprus negotiations, Talat and Verheugen also discussed some other regional matters; Turkey’s EU accession in particular.

Gunter Verheugen said Turkey’s accession talks are not that proceeding but the EU’s policy remains unchanged which is in favour of Turkey’s EU accession treaty.

Also speaking to reporters, Talat described Mr Verheugen as a very experienced politician on the Cyprus issue and said Verheugen strongly reiterated his support to Turkish Cypriots during their meeting.
Yesterday morning, the EU Commission’s Vice-President was received by Christofias.

A round-table meeting with Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot businessmen was also included in Verheugen’s agenda.
During his contacts, Gunter Verheugen said he very much appreciated the fact that both parties in Cyprus are aware of the beneficial importance of achieving reunification in Cyprus and expressed his belief that there is a real good opportunity for a final solution.

[halil]

`It is our responsibility, altogether, to find a solution to make that possible` Mr Verheugen told the Bayrak Radio and Television (BRT)
In an exclusive interview, Mr Verheugen expressed the Commission’s full support to the new negotiation process, which he said, has created a real opportunity for a solution in Cyprus.

`I believe that the present approach is very promising. We have two leaders who are really committed to a solution, which will serve the interests of all Cypriots` he said, calling on the leaders to make all the possible efforts towards bringing a solution to the problem.
Responding to a question, he stated that the UN resolutions and parameters should be the basis for an agreement to be reached in Cyprus.
But, he also noted that a future solution should also be based on the founding principles of the EU.

Answering another question, he said the European Union is not a negotiator or a mediator in Cyprus but added that the Union is ready to support the efforts of the two sides if asked and if necessary.

On Turkey’s role in Cyprus, Mr Verheugen reminded that both Ankara and the Turkish Cypriots fully endorsed the UN Peace Plan put forward in 2004, expressing the belief that they would continue to support and help the efforts towards a settlement.
On the Direct Trade Regulation, Mr Verheugen said that like the Turkish Cypriots, he was also disappointed by the delay in the implementation of the Regulation.

In a message to the Turkish Cypriot people, he said `I still believe that the Turkish Cypriots have the right to live as equals, with equal rights and responsibilities in the European Union, like others, if they wish. And it is our responsibility, altogether, to find a solution to make that possible`.

[Piratis]

The TCs have this right as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus which is an EU member.

For a TC to enjoy his EU rights the only thing he has to do is to accept that Republic of Cyprus is the one and only state in Cyprus and him a citizen of this Republic, and get a Republic of Cyprus ID. All TCs are free to do so.

[Viewpoint]

The TCs have this right as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus which is an EU member.

For a TC to enjoy his EU rights the only thing he has to do is to accept that Republic of Cyprus is the one and only state in Cyprus and him a citizen of this Republic, and get a Republic of Cyprus ID. All TCs are free to do so.

And be ruled by GCs.

[Kikapu]

The TCs have this right as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus which is an EU member.

For a TC to enjoy his EU rights the only thing he has to do is to accept that Republic of Cyprus is the one and only state in Cyprus and him a citizen of this Republic, and get a Republic of Cyprus ID. All TCs are free to do so.

And be ruled by GCs.

Only if the TC's refuse to participate in a unified Cyprus, because at the present moment, the TC's are "ruled" by the GC's how ever indirectly it may be, because the north is in a "lockdown" economically, politically and legally.!

[miltiades]

The TCs have this right as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus which is an EU member.

For a TC to enjoy his EU rights the only thing he has to do is to accept that Republic of Cyprus is the one and only state in Cyprus and him a citizen of this Republic, and get a Republic of Cyprus ID. All TCs are free to do so.

And be ruled by GCs.

No VP , ruled by the RoC , NOT AS A MINORITY BUT AS AN EQUAL CYPRIOT IN EVERY RESPECT.
Minorities are created by those that align themselves to a foreign country. Why is it that I do not in any way feel as if I'm of a minority status here in the UK. I dont walk about moaning that I'm ruled by the Brits , No Sir I'm a part of the majority .

[Viewpoint]

The TCs have this right as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus which is an EU member.

For a TC to enjoy his EU rights the only thing he has to do is to accept that Republic of Cyprus is the one and only state in Cyprus and him a citizen of this Republic, and get a Republic of Cyprus ID. All TCs are free to do so.

And be ruled by GCs.

Only if the TC's refuse to participate in a unified Cyprus, because at the present moment, the TC's are "ruled" by the GC's how ever indirectly it may be, because the north is in a "lockdown" economically, politically and legally.!

Please carify with examples.

[Piratis]

The TCs have this right as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus which is an EU member.

For a TC to enjoy his EU rights the only thing he has to do is to accept that Republic of Cyprus is the one and only state in Cyprus and him a citizen of this Republic, and get a Republic of Cyprus ID. All TCs are free to do so.

And be ruled by GCs.

How many TCs have Republic of Cyprus IDs, do you know?

[Icarus]

The TCs have this right as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus which is an EU member.

For a TC to enjoy his EU rights the only thing he has to do is to accept that Republic of Cyprus is the one and only state in Cyprus and him a citizen of this Republic, and get a Republic of Cyprus ID. All TCs are free to do so.

And be ruled by GCs.

How many TCs have Republic of Cyprus IDs, do you know?

I think some 65,000 TCs have Republic of Cyprus passports and/or IDs.

[kurupetos]

http://europa.eu/scadplus/constitution/ ... htm#VALUES

You have to comply with the following in order to enjoy any benefits:

THE VALUES OF THE UNION

The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values, which are set out in Article I-2, are common to the Member States. Moreover, the societies of the Member States are characterised by pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men. These values play an important role, especially in two specific cases. Firstly, under the procedure for accession set out in Article I-58, any European State wishing to become a member of the Union must respect these values in order to be considered eligible for admission. Secondly, failure by a Member State to respect these values may lead to the suspension of that Member State's rights deriving from membership of the Union (Article I-59).

an area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

As regards the protection of fundamental rights, the Constitution makes significant advances. Article I-9 of the Constitutional Treaty reproduces the guarantee of fundamental rights provided in the EU Treaty and refers to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) and to the constitutional traditions common to the Member States. This Article also opens the way for the Union to seek formal accession to the ECHR. Fundamental rights therefore form part of Union law as general principles.

A protocol annexed to the Constitution provides that the accession of the Union to the ECHR must preserve the specific characteristics of the Union and Union law and not affect the specific situation of Member States in relation to the ECHR. Moreover, a declaration annexed to the Final Act of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) notes the existence of a regular dialogue between the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights, which could be reinforced when the Union accedes to that Convention.

In addition, the Constitutional Treaty includes the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which was solemnly proclaimed at the Nice European Council in December 2000, in Part II of the Constitution. The European Union therefore acquires for itself a catalogue of fundamental rights which will be legally binding not only on the Union, its institutions, agencies and bodies, but also on the Member States as regards the implementation of Union law. The inclusion of the Charter in the Constitution does not compromise the division of competences between the Union and the Member States.

The inclusion of the Charter in the Constitutional Treaty will make it more visible to all citizens, who will be better informed of their rights. The Charter also contains additional rights not contained in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, such as workers' social rights, data protection, bioethics or the right to good administration.